Quiz: Howstuffworks

Are You Keeping Up With the British Royal Family?

Jennifer Post

Image: Wiki Commons by Library and Archives Canada

About This Quiz

The House of Windsor has been on the throne since 1917, but it was even ruling before then, just under a different name. The name was changed from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha to Windsor after it was seen as unsavory to have a German-sounding name. Makes sense given what was happening at the time. While the British royal family doesn't technically have a last name, immediate heirs of Queen Elizabeth have the last name Mountbatten-Windsor, and everyone else is just known as Windsor. The whole last name thing is confusing, and it's not really that crucial to understanding the royal family.

There are so many fun facts and random tidbits that have come out about the royal family thanks to documentaries, Freedom of Information Act requests and simple observation. Now that fans of the family have smartphones and like to feel the rush of commenting on them to the press, we know that Kate and William called Princess Charlotte "Lottie" and they like to order Chinese takeout and binge-watch TV. The media rampage is a concern of the family, due to the untimely death of Princess Diana, but they have more control over what gets published than ever. How much more do you know about the British royal family? Take this quiz to find out!

Elva Etienne / Moment / Getty Images

Does Queen Elizabeth drink alcohol?

She sure does!

Absolutely not

That's not becoming.

Only if she's off duty

The Queen certainly imbibes! She has been seen enjoying champagne at official events and she is known to have a gin drink before lunch and wine during lunch. You won't ever see her drunk, though.

Paul Bradbury / OJO Images / Getty Images

Even though they're not supposed to, have members of the royal family signed autographs?

Definitely not

Yes!

They wouldn't risk it.

Not that's been reported

Meghan Markle, Prince Charles and the Queen herself have all been seen signing autographs. However, they were for very special circumstances. Meghan Markle, who was a celebrity prior to being a Duchess, may have just gotten lost in the habit.

Wiki Commons by NASA

Why will you most likely only see the Queen in bright colors unless there's been a death?

That's what's always been done.

They look the best on her.

So she can be easily located in a crowd

So no one upstages her

You could say that the Queen is an important person, so her safety is crucial. If she's wearing bright colors, her security detail can keep a better eye on her and get to her more easily if something were to go wrong.

The Royal Family Channel / YouTube

What's the name of William and Kate's youngest child?

Prince Arthur

Prince Archie

Prince George

Prince Louis

Prince Louis of Cambridge was born on April 23, 2018. The youngest of their three children, he is the first male born heir who will be further back in line for the throne than his sister due to a new birth order rule.

The Royal Family Channel / YouTube

How are Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, the Sussexes, raising their first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor?

As a private citizen

As a Lord

As a Prince

The same as the Cambridges

Meghan and Harry have decided not to give their first child a title and to raise him as a private citizen, or as much or a private citizen he can be. He is still around seventh in line for the throne.

Juliet White / Photographer's Choice RF / Getty Images

Does the Queen need a driver's license?

Of course she does

Nope

Only when driving outside England

Not since she turned 50

The Queen is the only person in the UK who is not required to have a driver's license. She's never needed one ever since she learned to drive, and she can often be seen driving around town or around her estates.

pictafolio / E+ / Getty Images

Which food is never allowed at dinners with the Queen?

Black pepper

Strawberries

Garlic

Cheese

She hates the smell of it almost as much as she hates the taste of it. You'll also never see shellfish on the menu if the Queen is in attendance. She does, however, eat Corn Flakes every morning.

Wiki Commons by Ralph_PH

How many birthdays does the Queen have?

The Queen doesn't celebrate her birthday.

As many as she wants

One

Two

The day she was born is April 21, but she officially celebrates her birthday on the second Saturday of June to celebrate with the public. This tradition actually goes all the way back to the 1700s.

Image Source / Stockbyte / Getty Images

Does Charles, Prince of Wales, have someone else squeeze his toothpaste onto his toothbrush for him?

He does.

No way

Only if his hands are preoccupied

That was one time.

Prince Charles does, in fact, have his valet squeeze his toothpaste for him. His pajamas are also pressed every day, his shoelaces are pressed with a flat iron and he likes his bathwater tepid. He really does enjoy the finer things in life.

Krit of Studio OMG / Moment / Getty Images

What's the Queen's nail polish color that she wears every day?

She doesn't wear the same color everyday.

Essie "Ballet Slippers"

It's just clear.

OPI "Sand Tropez"

The opaque pink "Ballet Slippers" is what the Queen always has on her nails. The Queen's hairstylist even sent Essie a letter telling them how much the monarch loves the color. Kate Middleton has also taken her lead and often wears the color.

ThamesTv / YouTube

How long was Princess Diana's train on her wedding dress?

45 feet

10 feet

25 feet

30 feet

The marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana did not end at all how people thought, but the wedding itself was a huge spectacle. The train on Diana's dress was 25 feet long and is one of the longest in royal history.

The Royal Family Channel / YouTube

Can those who marry into the royal family spend Christmas with their own families?

They cannot.

Christmas is the Queen's holiday.

Of course they can

Only if they're invited to the Queen's Christmas

Meghan Markle's mother has been invited by the Queen to Sandringham estate for Christmas, but if she weren't, Meghan, Harry and their children would see Meghan's family another time to celebrate the holiday.

Wiki Commons by KoronaLacassePhoto

Does Camilla Parker-Bowles have a royal title despite being the second wife of Prince Charles?

She is the Duchess of Cornwall.

She does not.

Remarried women are not allowed titles.

She didn't want one.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, was given that title to match Prince Charles as the Duke of Cornwall. She was not, and will not, be given the title of Princess of Wales. It is likely that she will be crowned Queen at some point, though.

DNY59 / E+ / Getty Images

Which royal bride was the first one with a college degree?

Diana Spencer

Kate Middleton

Queen Elizabeth II

Princess Margaret

Kate Middleton graduated from St. Andrews with a Master's Degree in History of Art. That makes her the only royal bride to obtain a college degree. Prince Harry also married a royal bride with a college education.

Wiki Commons by Northern Ireland Office

Has Meghan Markle, as Duchess of Sussex, ever spoken about politics?

Never

She doesn't follow politics.

She did, but the tweet has been deleted.

Not publicly

She once tweeted out that she was pleased about Ireland's decision to legalize abortion. Prior to marrying Prince Harry, Meghan was an outspoken feminist and just as outspoken about other aspects of politics.

Wiki Commons by Sodacan

Do you know the official last name of the British royal family?

Batenburg

Wales

Mountbatten

Windsor

The last name of the royal family can get tricky. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's children have the last name of Mountbatten-Windsor, which is also the last name of Harry and Meghan's son, Archie. But William's last name is Windsor.

The Royal Family Channel / YouTube

Besides English, what language is the Queen fluent in?

French

Spanish

German

Mandarin

It comes in handy, of course, when she travels to France, but she will use the language when she hosts guests at the palace from that region. It also might even save the taxpayers some money on an interpreter.

The Royal Family Channel / YouTube

Did Kate Middleton and Prince William ever break up?

They never did.

Yep! In 2007

That was only a rumor.

When they were in college

It was reported that Prince William broke up with Kate over the phone, but that has never been confirmed. Kate said the time apart made her a stronger person and eventually made them stronger as a couple.

Wiki Commons by Nick Parfjonov

How did Princess Diana die?

Tackled by a fan

Plane crash

Car accident

Natural causes

The paparazzi became a huge part of Princess Diana's life, especially after her divorce from Prince Charles. They became so involved that the driver of the car she was in crashed to try and get away from the press. The end result was the world losing the people's princess.

The Royal Family Channel / YouTube

Which of the below did Meghan Markle not have to do when she agreed to marry Prince Harry?

Delete her social media

Become baptized into the Church of England

Become a British citizen

Change her name

Working members of the royal family are not permitted to have personal social media accounts, so Meghan's, as well as her blog "The Big" had to be deleted. She was also baptized into the religion of the royal family and started studying to become a British citizen.

The Royal Family Channel / YouTube

Which of the below is a tradition for princes in the British royal family?

Military training

Marrying other royals

Naming their sons after themselves

Studying abroad

This has been a tradition for as long as anyone can remember, and while military training is not an exact requirement of the British royal family, it would be very odd and unheard of for a prince to not have military training.

Wiki Commons by State Library of Queensland, Australia

Do American citizens have to bow or curtsey to the Queen?

Everyone inferior to her does.

They don't.

They do if they're in the UK.

Only if they're marrying into the royal family

It is not required that American citizens address the Queen in any certain way, but it is a show of respect to bow or curtsey. All British citizens, however, are required to address her with a bow or curtsey.

Paul Bradbury / OJO Images / Getty Images

Are people normally allowed to take photos with the Queen?

Only during official engagements

If you ask first

No

Only if they're an official photographer

The Queen has been known to say how much she hates when she looks at her fans and all she sees is the back of their phone because they're taking photos of her. Even if you ask to take a photo with her, she'll almost always say no unless it's for an official engagement.

Network First / YouTube

What year does Queen Elizabeth refer to as "annus horribilis" (horrible year)?

2000

1945

1986

1992

1992 was the year that Prince Charles and Diana divorced, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson divorced, and a fire broke out in Windsor Castle, damaging the Queen's residence and many irreplaceable things inside.

The Royal Family Channel / YouTube

What was the name of Prince Charles' published book and corresponding documentary?

"A Vision of Britain"

"Room with a View"

"The Real Life of the Prince of Wales"

"Here I Go Again on My Own"

Prince Charles has long been an advocate of preserving British architecture and style without modern renovations. His book and documentary, "A Vision of Britain," focuses on the prince's endeavors for building restoration.

The Royal Family Channel / YouTube

Was Queen Elizabeth ever expected to be Queen?

She was second in line.

She actually wasn't.

Since birth

No because she wasn't the oldest child.

She was third in line for the throne behind her Uncle Edward and her father. When Edward proposed to divorced American Wallis Simpson, he was basically forced to abdicate, putting Elizabeth's father on the throne. She became Queen after his untimely death.

IBTimes UK / YouTube

When did Charles and Diana finalize their divorce?

May 18, 1996

Dec. 21, 1995

Aug. 28, 1996

Feb. 11, 1997

Their marriage was nothing short of tumultuous, with both of them having extramarital affairs before their divorce was official. Late in the summer of 1996, the couple finalized the details of their divorce, and Diana officially lost her title, though people still called her "princess."

krisanapong detraphiphat / Moment / Getty Images

Did the NSA (National Security Agency) in the United States have Princess Diana under surveillance?

No, but they did have the Queen under surveillance.

They didn't get involved in the royal family.

They did not.

You bet

Due to national security concerns, the contents of her file cannot be released, so it is not exactly known why she was under surveillance or what they found, but a Freedom of Information Act request did show that the NSA had her under surveillance.

The Royal Family Channel / YouTube

How did Prince Harry and his now-wife, Meghan Markle meet?

On a blind date

On the red carpet

At a bar

At the BAFTAs

A mutual friend set the two up, and reportedly told Meghan that she "might" like him, the "him" being sixth in the line to the British throne. Turns out, the friend was right and Meghan did like him. The rest is history!

Mongkol Chuewong / Moment / Getty Images

Is there an ATM inside Buckingham Palace?

No way

Yes, there is.

The Queen doesn't need cash.

They would never be so tacky.

You would never see the Queen on the street at an ATM or at the bank, so she has her very own ATM inside Buckingham Palace. The weirdest part? The money that comes out of the Queen's ATM has the Queen's face on it.

Wiki Commons by DoD News

Was there a dating show based on Prince Harry?

The royal family would never allow that.

Not in real life

It was called "I Want to Marry Harry."

No, but there was one on Prince William.

Believe it or not, there was in fact a dating show called "I Want to Marry Harry." Barely anyone watched it, because there was an actor portraying Harry. It's not clear if the women actually thought Prince Harry was appearing on a reality dating show, but it was canceled after four episodes.

Image Source / Photodisc / Getty Images

Which actress did Princess Diana invite to tea because Prince William had a crush on her?

Julia Stiles

Alyssa Milano

Farrah Fawcett

Cindy Crawford

How embarrassing! Prince William had a schoolboy crush on Cindy Crawford, so Princess Diana thought it would be funny to invite her to tea. Can you imagine sitting through that tea?

The Royal Family Channel / YouTube

What will Kate Middleton's title be when Prince William becomes King?

Queen Consort

Queen Mother

Queen Regnant

Princess of Wales

The Queen Consort is the wife of the reigning King. She shares the same noble and societal status as her husband, but does not have ruling power equal to the King. It is different than Queen Regent, as that one inherited the throne by family.

Wiki Commons by Carfax2

Are Queen Elizabeth and her husband related?

Ew no

Yes!

First cousins

That was a nasty rumor.

Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, are third cousins. This might seem weird now, but it was actually really common at that time. It was a way to keep the royal family all in the same bloodline.

Wiki Commons by Eva Rinaldi from Sydney Australia

When did Prince Harry fight on the front lines in Afghanistan?

2004

2002

2008

2012

He was sent on a secret mission to Afghanistan in 2008, but was sent home in 2012 after the media learned of his service there. It's easy to see why knowledge of Prince Harry on the front lines might put him, and his regiment, in danger.

Wiki Commons by Dan Marsh

Who was Prince Charles dating when he met Diana Spencer, future Princess of Wales?

Sheila Ferguson

Cindy Buxton

Camilla Parker-Bowles

Her older sister

When Diana and Charles met, she was only 16 years old. That would be weird, but Charles wasn't actually courting Diana at that time. He was dating her older sister! He eventually married, and then divorced, Diana.

The Royal Family Channel / YouTube

How do the ladies in the royal family keep their dresses and skirt from flying up in the wind?

They have weights sewn into the hemlines.

Hairspray

They keep their dresses longer.

Always have their hand by their side

The Queen started the tradition of having weights sewn into the hems of her dresses and skirts. This was to avoid wardrobe mishaps like the skirt flying up and revealing more skin than should ever be seen. Modesty is key.

David Malan / Photodisc / Getty Images

Why is it a requirement that every member of the royal family travels with a black outfit?

For formal dinners

In case someone dies

It can be worn anywhere.

It hides stains.

On royal tours, every member going must pack a black outfit in the event that someone dies while they're on tour. They must always have the appropriate outfit and show respect no matter where they are.

The Royal Family Channel / YouTube

Prince William and his children are never supposed to travel together. Why?

He's afraid of flying.

Children always travel with their mother.

Heirs don't travel together in case of tragedy.

Kate doesn't allow it.

If the whole family travels together by plane and the plane goes down, the heir and his heirs are no longer. That would seriously mess up the line of succession and wouldn't preserve the lineage.

The Royal Family Channel / YouTube

According to popular polls, who is the least popular member of the royal family?

Prince Philip

Queen Elizabeth

Prince Andrew

Prince Charles

Maybe it's the way he treated Diana or the distant relationship he had with his sons for a while, but Prince Charles is by far the least popular member of the royal family. Hope that doesn't keep going once he becomes king.

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